40.1 Immediately after Jesus called His disciples, He put His plan of evangelism into full swing.
His disciples would learn by being with Him.
40.2 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
Jesus plan of evangelism was detailed and well thought out. The first part of his plan was to visit all the synagogues.1 By Jewish law any male over the age of thirty was allowed to do the second reading from the Old Testament and make comments.2 Visiting Rabbis were more than welcome. Jesus waited until He was thirty, then began His ministry immediately.3 His obvious plan was to visit every synagogue in Israel with the good news that He was the Messiah. The teaching would take the form of commenting on the Bible verses He had read. Jesus took the opportunity to read a selection concerning Himself, and show Himself as the fulfillment: (see lesson 33)
1. The synagogues were open on Saturdays (the Sabbath) to the people who lived in each town. Mondays and Thursdays the synagogues were open for country folk who lived nearby in smaller villages having no synagogues of their own. Jesus could visit the synagogues on any of these days.
2. The first reading was from the Torah (the first five books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). The second reading was from any other book in the Old Testament.
3. There are some who say that Jesus didn't begin His ministry until He was thirty years old because Joseph had died and, by law, Jesus had to provide for His younger brothers and sisters until He reached the age of thirty. I think that's true. Part of Jesus' mission was to fulfill the law. The Messiah would fulfill the law.
40.3 preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
The second part of His plan was to preach (proclaim, or announce, or "herald") the good news of the kingdom of God. This Good News of course was the news of Salvation and Life Everlasting through faith in God's Son, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus heralded this news of Himself in open market places, the temple in Jerusalem, or any other public place where a crowd could be gathered. He often announced Himself as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, (see John 5:46 & John 6:45) and types. For example: He announced Himself as the fulfillment of the Brass Serpent type (John 3:14); He called Himself the "Light of the World" (John 8:12) The resurrection and the Life, (John 11:25) The Way the Truth and the Life, (John 14:6) The living Bread (manna) which came down from heaven. (John 6:51) etc.
On several occasions He directly called Himself God, (John 8:58 and John 10:30) On both occasions (as at Nazareth), the people took up stones to kill Him because they thought He was guilty of blasphemy. Because of this He did not usually refer to Himself as the Messiah, but showed Himself to be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and types, letting men come to their own conclusions about who He was. * see footnote (see Jesus Messianic Claims)
However, it was of utmost importance to Him that His disciples understood exactly Who He was. So He asked them, "Who do you say that I am?" And when Peter answered "You are the Christ, (the Messiah), the Son of the Living God." Jesus said He would build His Church on that foundational belief. (see Matthew 16:16) Martha made this same confession (see John 11:27), and Jesus did not rebuke her, but rather raised her brother Lazarus from the dead to prove it!
Most notably He called Himself the "Son of Man". It was His own designation for Himself. A student of God's Word could figure out what that meant. (see auxiliary lesson 29)
Jesus also proclaimed (announced), the good news of the kingdom of heaven by telling short stories called parables which were designed to teach one central truth about God's kingdom. He often began such stories by saying "The kingdom of heaven is like..." People thrilled to His words. (see lesson 4)
40.4 and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Matthew 4:23
Jesus used miracles to back up His claim to be the Messiah. (John 10:36-38) It was another way of reaching the people, and He had compassion on them. His love for people drew them to Him. They knew He would respond to their need. Great multitudes of sick people were healed. When news of this got around the crowds increased. Jesus never turned down anyone who came to Him for healing. He healed them all; blind, halt, lame, leper, prostitute, tax collector, beggar, rich, poor, sinner, Roman, Gentile or Jew. And so He fulfilled the Messianic prophecies concerning Himself. News of these things would spread like wildfire.
40.5 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him -- from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Matthew 4:24-25
His plan was working. Large crowds were gathered to hear Him. As His ministry continued the crowds grew ever larger. First it was a multitude, then it was a great multitude, then it was a number that no one could count!
footnote* Eventually Jesus was crucified for making these claims. The false Jewish religious leaders blindly railroaded Jesus to His death precisely because they understood the meaning and importance of the claims He was making -- not because they did not understand Him. But the Bible makes it clear that it was for our sins that He died. If the question is asked, "Who killed Jesus?" The only correct Biblical answer is -- WE DID.
Discussion: Did Jesus ever claim to be God? Did He ever claim to be the Messiah?
Memory verse: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
Quiz:
lesson 40a
lesson 40b
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